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When Carlos Ordonez realized that he'd seen an escaped prisoner and mental health patient begging for money on the streets of Miami, he called 911. He spoke with NBC 6's Christina Hernandez about finding out that he wasn't eligible for a Crime Stoppers reward. (Published Monday, Oct. 7, 2013)

"As soon as I gave him 30 cents I realized this looks like the guy I saw on channel 6 news," Ordonez said.

No Reward for Man Who Called 911, Not Crime Stoppers, With Tip

When Carlos Ordonez realized that he'd seen an escaped prisoner and mental health patient begging for money on the streets of Miami, he called 911 – but later found out that he wasn’t eligible for a Crime Stoppers reward. NBC 6’s Gilma Avalos reports on that case and one from 2007 where a man whose 911 call helped police nab an escaped prisoner was able to cash a Crime Stoppers check. (Published Monday, Oct. 7, 2013)

Ordonez didn't know the Crime Stoppers phone number, so he called 911. That prisoner, Leandro Guymaraes, 30, who escaped from the South Florida State Mental Hospital in Pembroke Pines, was arrested and taken back to jail, authorities said.

The next day, Ordonez thought he might be eligible for a reward, but he wasn't. Why? Because he called 911, not Crime Stoppers.

Prisoner Who Escaped From South Florida State Mental Hospital Booked Into Jail

Leandro Guymaraes, who escaped from South Florida State Mental Hospital in Pembroke Pines, is booked into jail in Miami after he was caught early Monday. (Published Monday, Oct. 7, 2013)

"I called 911 because they're the ones that are going to get there first, not Crime Stoppers. Crime Stoppers isn't a police department. A police department is a police department," he said. "Why do I have to call a third party when there's an escaped prisoner? Crime Stoppers has to call them first?"

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Richard Masten is the executive director of Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers. He said 911 is for emergencies, not tips. Masten said it'd be impossible to reward everyone who calls 911, adding that a call to 911 will identify you. Crime Stoppers is completely anonymous.

On the Broward Crime Stoppers website, it says Crime Stoppers is to report suspicious or covert activity or to provide a tip or information about an unsolved case or fugitive criminal.

Even though he isn't being rewarded in cash, Ordonez still doesn't regret calling 911 instead of the tip line.

"I did the right thing. They captured the guy," he said. "I'm glad they caught the guy."